When it comes down to it for most people, an M3 doesn't look that much different than a 328. Owning an M3 is kinda like having the biggest/nicest house in a neighborhood. Your perceived value is dragged down by your neighbors' relatively pedestrian houses. Like owning a $700k house in a neighborhood of $400k houses.

When it comes down to it for most people, an M3 doesn't look that much different than a 328. Owning an M3 is kinda like having the biggest/nicest house in a neighborhood. Your perceived value is dragged down by your neighbors' relatively pedestrian houses. Like owning a $700k house in a neighborhood of $400k houses.

+1

An M3 is an enthusiast's car. Most people look at it and say it's a 3 series.

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E92 AW/FR Ext 6MT/ZCP/ZPP/ZTP
"The M3 M DCT simply does everything well except tow a hot-dog stand. It may even be the second-best car in the world after the M3 manual. "

This thread is interesting to me... mostly because I've always assumed everyone knows an M3 is a phenomenal machine, not to be confused with a standard 3-series.

I would like to think that the sound and styling alone would infer it's not just an ordinary sports sedan. Then again, my wife thinks I'm crazy every time I roll down the window to listen to a NA engine

Now that the third person has asked how much my M3 cost, I tell them to guess and they lowball her at $40k.

How an M3 could look like a $40kish car is beyond me!?! They ask, what makes it special, I look at my baby, think and say, "Everything."

Granted, to the non-enthusiast, non-car people, they see a 3-Series. So then they assume, eh, $30k. Little do they know that you can get a 328i for nearly $50k when all the option boxes are checked.

My M3 is fully loaded and has the performance exhaust and c/f splitters for nearly $80k. When I tell them the price they flip out. One of the three said, "You could have got a Bentley." My immediate reply was, "Dude, that's six figues!" They like the car and they love the SS color but I don't think the M3 gets the respect it deserves.

This is just me ranting and raving since I thought you guys would understand best.

I love my M3 and she is worth every penny I don't have and it does not matter what anyone else thinks (for the most part, let's be honest here.)

You know what you paid for it ... she was new when you first touched her ... or as the Austin Martin commercial goes ...

"You know you are NOT the first but do you really care"

In all seriousness ... we all know that the moment we leave the dealership the car depreciates around $10K then every year depending on the milage and use another $10K we all know this and most of us don't care. Enjoy your car and if someone ask you just tell him "Enough like any other car of this quality"

You know what you paid for it ... she was new when you first touched her ... or as the Austin Martin commercial goes ...

"You know you are NOT the first but do you really care"

In all seriousness ... we all know that the moment we leave the dealership the car depreciates around $10K then every year depending on the milage and use another $10K we all know this and most of us don't care. Enjoy your car and if someone ask you just tell him "Enough like any other car of this quality"

The only person who has ever asked me how much my car costs was a valet. I didn't even answer him because I thought it was kind of rude. It did make me wonder if he was Ferris Buellering my car while I ate.

You know what you paid for it ... she was new when you first touched her ... or as the Austin Martin commercial goes ...

"You know you are NOT the first but do you really care"

In all seriousness ... we all know that the moment we leave the dealership the car depreciates around $10K then every year depending on the milage and use another $10K we all know this and most of us don't care. Enjoy your car and if someone ask you just tell him "Enough like any other car of this quality"

As others have said, unless you're a car enthusiast the M doesn't look much different than a 335 (or 328, for that matter). Which begs the question: maybe only car enthusiasts are willing to spend that much money on a car, hence the uneducated opinions?

I only get compliments on mine with the top down, then they're surprisingly frequent. The M IS a bad-ass looking vert!

I'm pretty sure the average person will look at the Nissan badge on a GTR and assume it's cheaper than the M3. They probably also associate me with riced out hondas because of the functional wing on my car. Doesn't bother me because I don't drive this car to please them or get their approval.

I've always assumed everyone knows an M3 is a phenomenal machine, not to be confused with a standard 3-series.

We (automotive enthusiasts) are the vast minority. Most people probably know what a BMW is, but guessing a small percentage even knows the difference between a 3-series and a 5-series, much less what an M3 is.

Now that the third person has asked how much my M3 cost, I tell them to guess and they lowball her at $40k.

Here's my translation of what's going on in their minds: How much of an asshole are you?

Most people, whatever their income, don't spend a lot on their car(s) -- especially if they have kids. They get the minivan, Subaru, Toyota, whatever, and judge you for not doing what they do. If you spent a lot, that makes you an asshole in their mind, especially if they're envious. If you didn't spend a lot and got value, that makes you smart, you beat The System. The lowball guess is a courtesy, especially since the car isn't flashy like a Lambo or big like an Expedition.

Layered on this is the attitude many people have that BMWs are somehow expensive and ostentatious, even if you get an old one. Some years ago, my friend bought an 8yo E39 530i for 15k, and people who were spending 30-45k on their minivans and SUVs were judging her for being indulgent. Tribal attitudes are very odd sometimes.

I guess a color is worth 30k to some people. I'm lucky I like black cars. CPO warranties are pretty good. Also who wants an E92? E90 RULE! thats why 2011 last good year haha

Thank you for contributing this thread by masquerading your opinion as fact. You buy CPO cars because you're cheap and don't care about color; others order Individual cars because they want to pay for something they like and enjoy.

Since you insist on quantifying your arguments, the color was actually worth $5K to me, because that was the extra cost of the Individual paint added to the price I paid. The brand new Individual build M3 with 0-5 miles on it, that I get to spec exactly to my personal preferences (try finding a moonroof on the lot, for example), and know that she's all mine and built just for me with every single option I wanted....yes, that's worth the remaining $25K which I paid, gladly, for the pleasure.

Maybe someday you'll experience that joy yourself. But if you don't, please remember, your view of other people's decisions is not a fact, it's simply a worthless opinion. Thanks.